Community Based Community Based Projects to Prevent Projects to Prevent Underage DrinkingUnderage Drinking

  

Kathryn StewartKathryn StewartMADD National BoardMADD National Board

Safety and Policy Analysis International and Safety and Policy Analysis International and Prevention Research CenterPrevention Research Center

Lafayette, CaliforniaLafayette, California

Age 21 Laws Age 21 Laws havehave been been effective!effective!

Effects of Age 21 LawsEffects of Age 21 Laws

Reduction in alcohol Reduction in alcohol consumptionconsumption

Reduction in drinking driver Reduction in drinking driver fatal crashes fatal crashes

Reduction in alcohol-related Reduction in alcohol-related homicides, suicides, homicides, suicides, unintentional injuriesunintentional injuries

Evidence of MLDA 21 Law Evidence of MLDA 21 Law EffectivenessEffectiveness

Drinking Drivers Over Age 21 involved in Drinking Drivers Over Age 21 involved in fatal crashes: the decrease between 1982 fatal crashes: the decrease between 1982 and 2004 wasand 2004 was

-33% -33%

Drinking Drivers Under Age 21 involved in Drinking Drivers Under Age 21 involved in fatal crashes: the decrease between 1982 fatal crashes: the decrease between 1982 and 2004and 2004

-62%-62%

MLDA 21 accounted for much of the MLDA 21 accounted for much of the difference (Hedlund, et al., 2001)difference (Hedlund, et al., 2001)

0.3

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1

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1.3

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Licensed drivers

FARS - alcohol positive

FARS - sober drivers

Reduction in Impaired Driving since Reduction in Impaired Driving since Drinking Age Raised in U.S.Drinking Age Raised in U.S.

Drivers 20 and YoungerDrivers 20 and Younger

Percent of 15-16 Year Olds Reporting Drinking in the

Past 30 Days

Percent of 15-16 Year Olds Reporting

Intoxication in the Last 30 Days

Lowering Drinking Age in New Lowering Drinking Age in New ZealandZealand

New Zealand lowered drinking age New Zealand lowered drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999 from 20 to 18 in 1999

Traffic crashes have increased as Traffic crashes have increased as have other alcohol related injuries have other alcohol related injuries and problems among youthand problems among youth

Drinking and associated problems Drinking and associated problems have trickled down to 15-17 year have trickled down to 15-17 year olds olds

Underage Drinking: What Underage Drinking: What Communities Can DoCommunities Can Do

Examples of Coordinated Examples of Coordinated Community EffortsCommunity Efforts

Preventing alcohol related problems at Preventing alcohol related problems at the US/Mexico Borderthe US/Mexico Border

Controlling alcohol outlet density to Controlling alcohol outlet density to prevent alcohol problemsprevent alcohol problems

Using policy and enforcement to Using policy and enforcement to prevent alcohol problems in college prevent alcohol problems in college communitiescommunities

Using community awareness and Using community awareness and enforcement to reduce sales to minorsenforcement to reduce sales to minors

The Border ProjectThe Border ProjectPreventing alcohol-related Preventing alcohol-related problems at the US/Mexico problems at the US/Mexico

BorderBorder

SitesSites

San Diego -TijuanaSan Diego -Tijuana El Paso – JuarezEl Paso – Juarez Laredo –Nuevo LaredoLaredo –Nuevo Laredo Brownsville - MatamorosBrownsville - Matamoros

The ProblemThe Problem

Mexico’s drinking age is 18Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Some border towns provided Some border towns provided

plentiful, cheap sources of alcoholplentiful, cheap sources of alcohol

The ProblemThe Problem

Mexico’s drinking age is 18Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Some border towns provided Some border towns provided

plentiful, cheap sources of alcoholplentiful, cheap sources of alcohol Young people traveled to Mexico to Young people traveled to Mexico to

drinkdrink Beverage service not always Beverage service not always

“responsible”“responsible”

The ProblemThe Problem

Mexico’s drinking age is 18Mexico’s drinking age is 18 Some border towns provided plentiful, Some border towns provided plentiful,

cheap sources of alcoholcheap sources of alcohol Young people traveled to Mexico to drinkYoung people traveled to Mexico to drink Beverage service not always “responsible”Beverage service not always “responsible” Heavy drinking occurredHeavy drinking occurred Sometimes resulted in problems, including Sometimes resulted in problems, including

impaired driving on the way homeimpaired driving on the way home

The Implementation StrategyThe Implementation Strategy

The nature and scope of the problem The nature and scope of the problem were explained to groups and were explained to groups and agencies on both sides of the borderagencies on both sides of the border

Media advocacy brought the problem Media advocacy brought the problem to the attention of the public through to the attention of the public through compelling news coveragecompelling news coverage

The Change StrategiesThe Change Strategies

Earlier bar closingsEarlier bar closings Stepped up DUI enforcement efforts Stepped up DUI enforcement efforts

on the US side of the border on the US side of the border Highly publicized enforcement of Highly publicized enforcement of

laws against crossing by youth under laws against crossing by youth under 1818

New restrictions on Marines from New restrictions on Marines from Camp PendletonCamp Pendleton

The ResultsThe Results

Dramatic decline in number of Dramatic decline in number of nighttime crossings by young peoplenighttime crossings by young people

Reduction in nighttime crashes Reduction in nighttime crashes involving drivers under 18involving drivers under 18

90% reduction in number of Marines 90% reduction in number of Marines driving back from the borderdriving back from the border

Alcohol Outlet Density Alcohol Outlet Density and Alcohol Problemsand Alcohol Problems

Controlling Alcohol Problems Controlling Alcohol Problems through Controlling the through Controlling the

Alcohol EnvironmentAlcohol Environment

The ProblemThe Problem

Neighborhoods where bars, Neighborhoods where bars, restaurants and liquor and other restaurants and liquor and other stores that sell alcohol are close stores that sell alcohol are close together suffer more frequent together suffer more frequent incidences alcohol-related problems.incidences alcohol-related problems.

Problems includeProblems include

Underage drinkingUnderage drinking Impaired drivingImpaired driving Property crimeProperty crime Violent crimeViolent crime Child abuse and neglectChild abuse and neglect

The Implementation StrategyThe Implementation Strategy

Make communities aware of the Make communities aware of the problems created by alcohol outletsproblems created by alcohol outlets

Make communities aware of the Make communities aware of the policy strategies that can control policy strategies that can control outlet location and densityoutlet location and density• Licensing policiesLicensing policies• Land use policiesLand use policies

The ResultsThe ResultsCommunities can:Communities can:

Set minimum distances between Set minimum distances between alcohol outletsalcohol outlets

Limit new licenses for areas that Limit new licenses for areas that already have outlets too close already have outlets too close together;together;

Not issue a new license when an Not issue a new license when an outlet goes out of businessoutlet goes out of business

Permanently close outlets that Permanently close outlets that repeatedly violate liquor lawsrepeatedly violate liquor laws

The Follow-upThe Follow-up

Policy changes can permanently Policy changes can permanently change the environmentchange the environment

Reductions in alcohol problems can Reductions in alcohol problems can be sustainedbe sustained

Communities are empowered to take Communities are empowered to take control of the alcohol environmentcontrol of the alcohol environment

Safer California UniversitiesSafer California UniversitiesProject GoalProject Goal

To evaluate the efficacy of To evaluate the efficacy of aa

“Risk Management” “Risk Management” approach to alcohol approach to alcohol problem preventionproblem prevention

NIAAA grant #R01 AA12516NIAAA grant #R01 AA12516with support from CSAP/SAMHSAwith support from CSAP/SAMHSA..

Why Care About College Student Why Care About College Student Drinking?Drinking?

Over 1,700 deaths among 18-24 year old college Over 1,700 deaths among 18-24 year old college studentsstudents

590,000 unintentionally injured under the 590,000 unintentionally injured under the influence of alcoholinfluence of alcohol

More than 690,000 assaulted by another student More than 690,000 assaulted by another student who has been drinkingwho has been drinking

More than 97,000 are victims of alcohol-related More than 97,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rapesexual assault or date rape

About 25 percent of college students report About 25 percent of college students report academic consequences of their drinkingacademic consequences of their drinking

What are we trying to What are we trying to prevent?prevent?

IntoxicationIntoxication

Harm related to intoxicationHarm related to intoxication

Integrated Intervention Strategies for Integrated Intervention Strategies for Off-Campus Parties Off-Campus Parties

A Social Host Safe Party CampaignA Social Host Safe Party Campaign

Compliance ChecksCompliance Checks

DUI Check PointsDUI Check Points

Party PatrolsParty Patrols

Pass Social Host “Response Cost” Pass Social Host “Response Cost” OrdinanceOrdinance

OutcomesOutcomes

Likelihood of getting drunk at bars or Likelihood of getting drunk at bars or restaurants much less.restaurants much less.

Likelihood of getting drunk at off Likelihood of getting drunk at off campus parties much less.campus parties much less.

Overall likelihood of getting drunk at Overall likelihood of getting drunk at any location much less.any location much less.

In addition…In addition…

No DisplacementNo Displacement

Reducing Youth Access to Alcohol: Reducing Youth Access to Alcohol: Integrated Environmental Integrated Environmental

ApproachesApproaches

Reward and Reminder ProgramReward and Reminder Program Minor Decoy Operations Minor Decoy Operations Shoulder Tap Operations Shoulder Tap Operations Party Patrols Party Patrols Traffic SurveillanceTraffic Surveillance Media AdvocacyMedia Advocacy

Reward & ReminderReward & Reminder

Community OutcomesCommunity Outcomes

Reduce sales of alcohol to minorsReduce sales of alcohol to minors Reduce impaired driving and other Reduce impaired driving and other

alcohol-related problemsalcohol-related problems Involve the Involve the wholewhole community in community in

changing the environmentchanging the environment Change community attitudes and Change community attitudes and

cultureculture

ConclusionsConclusions

Communities can create environments that Communities can create environments that reduce alcohol related problems through: reduce alcohol related problems through:

Understanding the nature of the problemsUnderstanding the nature of the problems Development of appropriate policiesDevelopment of appropriate policies Strategic use of law enforcement Strategic use of law enforcement

resourcesresources Strategic use of community awarenessStrategic use of community awareness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                              

                                                                                                                                                

                                      

www.resources.prev.orgwww.resources.prev.org